Means for discharging filter rods from a storage container



J1me 1960 M. POLLMANN 2,942,757

MEANS FOR DISCHARGING FILTER RODS FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 19, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 28, 1960 M. POLLMANN 2,942,757

MEANS FOR DISCHARGING FILTER RODS FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 19, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 zwazar Z9 @uawmz June 28, 1960 M. POLLMANN 2,942,757

MEANS FOR DISCHARGING FILTER RODS FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 19, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 flue/LAM June 28, 1960 2,942,757

M. POLLMANN MEANS FOR DISCHARGING FILTER RODS FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 19, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 28, 1960 M. POLLMANN MEANS FOR DISCHARGING FILTER RODS FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 19, 1957 e Shets-Sheet e INVENTOR. 777a): 7 022271 a 7171 United States Patent "ice 2,942,757 MEANS-FOR niscnancmo FILTER nous FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER Max Pollmann, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany, assignor to Knit Kiirlier & Cd, KEG Hamburg ilerg edorf,

Germany Filed Sept. 19, 1957, sans. 684,921

Claims priorit ,'a piieanon Germany Sept. 19, 1956 4 Claims. Cl. 221-68 The invention relates to ncvel'and improved'mea'ns for discharging filter rods and the like from a storage container in predetermined quantities.

In the manufacture 'of filter cigarettes the filter plugs are generally delivered to the cigarette manufacturer in the form of rods each comprising a predetermined number of aligned filter plugs to be separated by the -cigarette manufacturer. Various types of machines have been designed and built for facilitating the counting and packaging of said filter rods for delivery to the cigarette manufacturer. One of the principal clifiiculties in these en-' deavors has been to provide a machinefor the purpose indicated which is reasonably simple and yet capableof operating accurately at a speed corresponding to the output from a modern high-speed filter rod producing machine.

A common type of maehine for the purpose. indicated comprises a storage container into which the filter rods are transferred from the filter rod producing machine, A dischargeopening is provided at the bottom of said container which opens up into a discharge chute, or channel, one wall of which is formed by a portion of the periphery of a rotatably mounted drum while the opposite wall is formed by a stationary member curved concentrically with the drum. The drum is provided in 'its circumferential surface with a plurality of axial grooves uniformly distributed around the drum in close proximity to each other and each adapted to accommodate one filter rod. From the chute the filter rods are deposited upon a moving conveyor band from which they are generally removed by means of a ram device operatingsubstantially transversely across the conveyor band while at the same time moving with the conveyor band in order to enable continuous deposition'of the next batch of filter rods upon the conveyor band.

Generally speaking, the means according to the invention is of the type described above but important'improvements and modifications have been made which without increased complexity'of structure permit of "higher output speed and enhanced accuracy and efficiency of operation.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide novel and improved means of the character indicated in which a batch of filter rods, comprising a predetermined number thereof, is discharged from a bottom chute in the container and deposited upon a moving conveyor band therebelow with great rapidity during a brief time interval in which a transfer ram movable transversely of the conveyor band reverses its direction of movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improvedmeans of the kind indicated in which the forming ens wall of the discharge chute has a smooth cumferential surface Without filter rod receiving grooves and rotates at a constant uniform speed. i

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means of the character indicated in the chute is of su'ficien't length to accommodate in one 2,942,757 Patented June as, "1960 row at least the number of filter rods to be dislodged from the conveyor band in one batch by the transfer ram.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means of the character indicated in iiihich the 'drum forming 'a wall of the discharge chute and the conveyor band are adapted to move continuously while means are provided for temporarily discontinuing the flow of filter rods from the chute and the movement of the batch of filter rods (in the conveyor band with said conveyor band.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means of the character indicated in which the discharge means are duplicated in such a way that two batchesof filter rods are deposited simultaneously up'o'n two conveyor bands moving at the same level and at equal speed in a direction towards each other, said two batches being dislodged from the conveyors sirriult'ane ously by means of a single transfer ram.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic vertical section illustrating the functional principle of the'inv'ention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of "a detail "of "the inventional machine, Y

Fig. 3 is an elevational 'view of the machine, "certain parts and connections shown in detail in other figures being omitted for the sake of clearness,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of thec'onnections mentioned above,

Fig. 5 is an elevation of another of said connections,

Fig. 6 is an end view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, showing the reciprocatory parts thereof in one end position,

'Fig. 7 is a plan view of a detail of the structure of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. ,6', showing the reciprocatory parts in the other end position, and

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a portion of the machine. V

'A container 1 of suflicie'nt width perpendicularly to the elevational plane of Fig. 1 to accommodate filter rods in the position indicated at S is provided with two bottom outlets towards which the bottom wall 10, 10a slopes at all sides. Below each outlet a drum 2a, 3a is mounted for rotation on axes 11, 12 perpendicular to the elevational plane of Fig. l. The bottom walls 10a areprovided with depending extensions 1-3, 14 which concentrically surround the drums 2a, 3a on a portion of their periphery, thus forming smoothly curved chutes 2, 3 along the outer sides of the drums, as shown.

Below the drums 2a, 3a two endless conveyors 4,5 are mounted and extend horizontally towards each other to the vicinity of the midpoint between the drums 2a, 311, as shown. At a distance above the upper portions of said conveyors substantially equal to the width of the chutes 2, 3 a horizontal plate 6 is mounted which at thea'bovementioned midpoint has a depending ridg'e 7 refining a stop member, as explained below. Stirring devices A and B may be provided in the container 1 above the outlets as, for example, stirring of the type shownin ep iiqtng application Serial No. 683,748, filed September 13', 1957. A horiiontally movable ejection ram SK Fi'g. 2) is mounted in front of the space between the conveyor s 4, 5 the plate 6 and provided with a recess 9 for accommodation of the ridge 7, as be explained,

In operation, the conveyors 4, 5 are driven in the direction indicated by the ,a -rows ita, 5d at a speed than the peripheral velocity o'f the liq which rotate continuously in the indicated by and urged on by the drums 2a, 3a slide down the chutes 2, 3 and onto the conveyors 4, 5 which move the filter rodsuntil arrested by the ridge 7. At said moment two blade-shaped'stop fingers 131, 132 are caused to move in' between the conveyors 4, 5 and the curved members armws 15, The filter rods S in the container, prop- 'erly arranged by the aid of the stirring devices A, B

13, 14, substantially as indicated by the arrows 17, 18, a

into a position where they prevent further transfer of filter rods S to the position S on the conveyors.

Substantially at thesame time the ram 8 is caused to move in between the plate 6 and the conveyors 4, 5, thereby forcing the filter rods S from the conveyors in a direction transverse to said conveyors. The filter rods thus discharged to the position S may then be further removed by any suitable means (not shown) to provide space for the next batch of filter rods discharged by the ram 8. ;When the ram 8 is returned to its starting position, the stop fingers 131, 132 are retracted and another, batch of filter rods is immediately moved onto the conveyors. 4,5. As the number of filter rods receivable on the conveyors is predetermined, it is obvious thatthe V 7 same. number of filter rods are ejected at each ejection movement of the'ram 8. The final ejection position of the ram 8 is indicated at8' in Fig. 2.

An embodiment of the means employed for accomf motor 21 is mounted and on the shaft 22 of said motor abelt .pulley'23 is secured. By means of a belt 24. said 1 pulley 23 is operatively connected with :a pulley 25 se-.'

69 is, in turn, in engagement with a gear wheel 71 on a shaft 72 and with a gear wheel 73 on a shaft 74. The gear wheel 71 is in engagement with a gear wheel 75 on a shaft 76. I he shafts 70, 72, 74, 76 are parallel wlth the shaft 67 and supported. by a member 77 secured to the frame member 62. a

The conveyor belt 4 is supported on'a pulley 78 secured to the shaft 74,-and a pulley 79 on a shaft 80, and the belt 5 is similarily supported on a pulley 81 on the shaft 76 and a pulley 82 on a shaft 83. The shafts 80, 83 are mounted in members 84, 85 secured to the plishing the function set forth above in general terms will now be described in detail On a base 20 an electric cured to a horizontal shaft 26 rotatively supported in 7 bearing means27 ona. support plate 28'which. forms part ofa frame indicated generally at F and secured to.

. thebase20. V w 7 The shaft 26 has secured thereto a worm '29 in engagementwith a worm wheel 30'mounted on a'horizontal shaft 31 which is rotatably supported by vertical frame members 32, 33, 34, secured to the support plate 28. To

7 the shaft'31 abevel gear 35 is secured which is in engagement with a second bevel gear 36 secured to a horizontal shaft 37 that is mounted perpendicularly to the shaft '31 in support members 38 on the support plate 28. -The shaft 37 has secured thereto two belt pulleys 39 and 40. ,A coupling 41 of any suitable'kind is mounted on the shaft 31 and adapted to connect the worm wheel 30 nonrotatively-with the shaft 31. Manually operated means 42, 43 are provided for the coupling 41. Y

In asupport member 44 fixed to the support plate 28 a horizontal shaft 45 is rotatably mounted parallel with the-shaft 31am on the shaft 45 two'belt pulleys 46 and 47 are secured. A belt 48 is mounted on pulleys and 46 and a b'elt 49'connects the pulley 47 with a pulley 50 1 i V secured to a horizontal shaft 51 which is parallel with the shaft and rotatably mounted in a support member fi'ame member 62 and said shafts 80, 83 are parallel with the shafts 74, 76. Actually (compare Fig. 6) each conveyor belt 4, 5 is divided longitudinally to form two belt bands of which the belt bands 4' and 4" are shown in cross-section in- Fig. 6. The purpose hereof will appear as this description progresses. At a distance. above the conveyors 4, 5 the plate-6 is disposed'and adjustably secured to'frame members 86, 87 by suitable means 88,89.

The ram 8is provided on its underside with a depend- 7 ing bracket 90 forming'an elongated bearing'91 (Fig. 6)

slidably mounted on a ho'rizontal rod 92 secured at both ends to' support members 93,94 carried by the frame member 62. A horizontal shaft 95 parallel with the shaft 31 is mounted in'the bracket 90 andcarries an arm 96,

the other end of which ispivotally connected by pin 97' with one arm 98a of a bellcrank pivotally supportedat 99 on the frame member-28. Theother arm 98b of the bell crank carries atits free end a cam follower roller 100 which is maintained in engagement with a' 101 by means of tension springs 102 securedat103 to an extension 104. of the arm 98a and at 105, to the frame member 28. The cam101is'secured to the shaft 31. In'brackets 106, 107 on the'frame' member 62two rollers 108, 109 are rotatably mounted as supports for the ram 8.

The shaft 31 also has secured thereto a ,second'cam 110, the angular position of which in relation tothe cam 101' is shown in Fig. 6 which figure alsoshows the shapes of the cams 101, 110. A cam follower roller 111 is rotatably secured to an arm 112 which has attached to one end thereof at 114a tension'spring 113the'other end of which is secured'to the frame member 28 :at; 115.. :The

arm 112 is secured to ahorizontal shaft 116 parallel with shaft 31 and pivotally mounted in the frame To said shaft 116 two arms 117, 118 are secured which at' 52, 53 secured to the frame F. .A gear wheel 54 is sea cured to the shaft 51 in engagement with a gear wheel 55 secured to the shaft ll'on which the drum 2a is fixedly mounted. Over gear wheels 56 and 57 the gear wheel 55 is drivingly connected with a gear wheel '58 secured to, the shaft 12 which carries the 3a fixedly seemed thereto. r

' The shafts 11, 12 as well as shafts'59, for the gear end'of the frame F between the members 28 and 61.

structures accordance with sound constructional re- The 'support member may, in fact, include one or bothiof the rearand front walls of the container. 1;

i fw dmsalhs .11. a e rc ab r s c sdft theinother 'ends areipivotally connectedat11 9,120, re-

spectively, to arms 121, 122 pivotally connectedrat 123,

124 with' further arms 125,, 126 which have their 0pposite endsfpivotally connected with the frame member 62, as indicated at 127 in Fig. 6 where the pivot is marked 7 128. .Each' of the arms 121', '1 22 is non-rotatably con- ;nected to the respective pivot pin 123,124 which also has non-rotatably connected thereto an upstanding arm 129, 130 carrying the. stop fingers 131, 132 referred to in the description of Fig. "1, said fingers 131,132 being disposed in the space betweeirthe belt bands 47 an'd 4" and between/the corresponding bands of the conveyor belt 5. ,The arms 129, 130 are adjustable longitudinally onthepivotpins 123,124.

In view of the above description of the function'of the machine given inqconnection with Figs; .1 and 2, it is believed that no further description of the operations is required. 7

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, many modifications'thereof may be made by'a' person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of the invention falling within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for discharging filter rods and the like from a storage container in predetermined quantities, comprising two spaced bottom outlet openings in said container, a substantially smooth-surfaced drum rotatably mounted below each of said openings in close proximity thereto the axes of said drums being parallel, curved guide means stationarily mounted concentrically with each drum at a distance from the periphery thereof along the portion of the drum farthest from the other drum so as to form with the periphery of each drum a curved discharge chute for the filter rods, conveyor means adjacent the discharge end of each chute and in a horizontal plane therebelow, means for continually rotating said drums in such direction as to move the portions of the periphery thereof forming a wall in said chutes downwardly, means for moving said conveyor means towards each other and towards the center plane between said drums at a speed exceeding the peripheral velocity of said drums, horizontal plate means stationarily supported at a distance above said conveyor means slightly greater than the diameter of said filter rods, stop'means in said center plane substantially covering the space between the conveyor means and the plate means, stop means adjacent the discharge end of said chutes, means for moving said last mentioned stop means to and from a position in which they interrupt the discharge of filter rods from said chutes, ejector means extending along said horizontal plate means on a slightly lower level than said plate means, means for moving said ejector means transversely of said conveyor means into and out of the space between the conveyor means and the plate means, and means connecting said moving means for the ejector means with the moving means for said stop means so as to cause the movements thereof to occur in timed relationship, the length of said chutes being sufficient to accommodate at least the number of filter rods ejected in one movement of said ejector means whereby the flow of filter rods to the conveyor means may be interrupted by said stop means and the filter rods accumulated on the conveyor means may be ejected Without interference from succeeding filter rods from said chutes.

2. Means for discharging filter rods and similar articles from a storage container in predetermined quantities, comprising a bottom outlet opening in said container, a substantially smooth-surfaced drum rotatably mounted below said opening in close proximity thereto, curved guide means extending downwardly from said outlet opening on one side of the drum and concentrically therewith at such a distance from the periphery of the drum as to form a curved discharge chute for a single row of filter rods, horizontal conveyor means bel w said drum adjacent the discharge end of said chute, means for continuously rotating said drum in a downwardly direction along said chute, means for moving said conveyor means in the general direction of discharge from said chute at a speed that exceeds the peripheral velocity of said drum, horizontal plate means spaced substantially the Width of said chute above said conveyor means, stationary abutment means closing the space between said conveyor means and plate means at a distance from the discharge end of the chute, movable stop means adjacent the discharge end of the chute, means for moving said movable stop means into the path of the filter rods adjacent the discharge end of the chute, ejector means extending along said plate means at a somewhat lower level than the same, means for moving said ejector means transversely of said conveyor means against the ends of the filter rods on the conveyor means, and means interconnecting said moving means for the movable stop means with said moving means for the ejector means so as to cause the movements thereof to occur in timed relationship, the length of said chute being sufficient to accommodate at least the number of filter rods ejected in one movement of said ejector means.

3. In a machine for counting and packaging filter rods and the like, a container having a bottom discharge opening, means in said container for causing said filter rods to move towards said bottom discharge opening in substantially parallel relation to each other, a drum having a non-profiled surface mounted for continuous rotation on a horizontal axis below said discharge opening in close proximity thereto, curved guide means extending downwardly from said discharge opening at one side of said drum and concentrically therewith to form with the adjacent portion of the peripheral surface of said drum a curved discharge chute for a single row of the filter rods, the direction of rotation of said drum being such as to cause said adjacent portion of the peripheral surface of the drum to move downwardly, substantially horizontally movable conveyor means below said drum adjacent to the discharge end of said chute, the speed of said conveyor means exceeding the peripheral velocity of said drum, a wall parallel with said conveyor means spaced substantially the width of said chute above said conveyor means to form therewith a continuation of said chute, stationary abutment means closing said continuation of the chute at a distance from the discharge end of said chute, stop means mounted adjacent to the discharge end of said chute, means for moving said stop means into the path of the filter rods at such a distance from said stationary abutment means as to accommodate between said stop means and said abutment means a pre determined number of the filter rods, ejector means mounted at one side of said conveyor means and extending along the space between said wall and said conveyor means, means for moving said ejector means transversely of said conveyor means into and out of said space between the wall and the conveyor means, and means interconnecting said stop means and said ejector means to cause the movements thereof to occur in timed relationship, the length of said chute being sufficient to accommodate at least the number of filter rods ejected in one movement of said ejector means.

4. In a machine for counting and packaging filter rods and the like, a container having two bottom discharge openings spaced horizontally from each other, means in said container for guiding said filter rods towards said discharge openings in substantially parallel relation to each other, a drum with a non-profiled peripheral surface mounted for continuous rotation on a horizontal axis below each of said discharge openings in close proximity thereto, guide means concentrical with said drums extending downwardly from each of said discharge openings to form with the adjacent portion of the peripheral surface of the respective drum a curved discharge chute for a single row of the filter rods at each of said discharge openings, the direction of rotation of said drums being such as to cause said adjacent portion of the peripheral surface of each drum to move downwardly, substantially horizontally movable individual conveyor means below each of said drums adjacent to the discharge end of the respective chute, said conveyor means being adapted to move towards each other at a speed exceeding the peripheral velocity of said drums, wall means parallel with said conveyor means spaced substantially the width of said chutes above said conveyor means to form therewith continuations of said chutes, sta tionary abutment means separating said chute continuations, stop means mounted adjacent to the discharge end of each of said chutes, means for moving said stop means into the paths of the filter rods at such a distance from said stationary abutment means as to accommodate between said stop means a predetermined number of the filter rods, ejector means mounted at one side of said conveyor means and extending along the space between said wall and said conveyor means, means for moving said ejector means transversely of said conveyor means 'movement of said ejector means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,252,562 Fassinger Jan. 8, 1918 1,647,265 Bronander Nov. 1, 1927 1,984,808 Popov Dec. 18, 1934 2,550,616 Stephano Apr.'24, 1951 

